Playing Career
After playing hockey at the junior level for the Kenora Thistles, Allison caught the attention of the Sudbury Wolves, who made him their first draft pick in the 1978 OHL Draft. Playing on the left wing, Allison had an exceptional second season in Sudbury, achieving 95 points, on the strength of 71 assists, and was drafted by the New York Rangers in the second round of the 1980 NHL Entry Draft. Allison began his National Hockey League career the very next season in 1980–81, and his first season proved to be his most productive. He scored a goal on his very first shot on goal, on 9 October 1980, and two days later scored his first hat trick against the Toronto Maple Leafs. It would prove to be the only hat trick of Allison's entire career. Playing on a line with Ulf Nilsson and Anders Hedberg for the first half of the season, Allison finished the season as the Rangers' rookie leader in scoring, and in fact established team records for rookie assists (38) and points (64), although the records were surpassed the following season by Mark Pavelich.
Allison played 5 more seasons for the Rangers, but a series of knee injuries prevented him from playing a full season again while in New York. In the summer of 1986 he was traded to the Maple Leafs for Walt Poddubny, and for only the second time played a full NHL season. By this point in his career, knee injuries had made Allison adjust his playing style, to be more of a defensive player, often playing killing penalties, and less of an aggressive forward. In spite of this, he still was a strong contributor for the Maple Leafs in the 1986–87 NHL Playoffs. Early in the 1987-88 NHL season Allison was traded to the Los Angeles Kings for Sean McKenna. After playing three more partial seasons with the Kings, Allison retired from the NHL after the 1989–90 NHL season.
Read more about this topic: Mike Allison
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